Dispenser for convention rolls of flexible sheet material

ABSTRACT

A flexible sheet material dispenser comprising; a spindle on which a roll of flexible sheet material is adapted to be rotatably mounted, means for supporting the spindle to thereby rotatably support the roll in a dispensing position, and means for automatically disengaging the spindle from the supporting means after a predetermined amount of flexible material has been removed from the roll.

United States Patent Jespersen 14 1 Sept. '12, 1972 [54] DISPENSER FOR CONVENTION ROLLS 3,058,682v 10/1962 Mott et a1 ..242/55.3 OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL 3,211,504 10/1965 Bump ..312/39 3 382 021 5/1968 De Woskin ..3l2/39 72 I t P I t., 1 g' gjgf 'fggfigi Summer S 3,387,902 6/1968 Pemn et a1. ..242/ss.s3 x I 3,416,744 12/1968 Mott, Sr. et a] ..242/5 5.3 Fried: y 3, 1970 3,438,589 4/1969 Jespersen ..242/s5.2 [2]] Appl 36,855 3,474,977 10/1969 Mott, Sr. et a1 ..242/55.3

Related US Applica ion 8 8 Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 784,307, Dec. Swmdle' Meme & Beckett 17, 1968, abandoned.

' [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..242/55.3 A flexible sheet material dispenser comprising; a Spin [5 1] I111. Cl ..B65h 19/04, B6511 75/02 11 on which a to" of flexible sheet material is adapted [58] F1610 or Search ....242/s5.2, 55.3, 55.53; 312/39 be rotatably mounted, means for Supporting the spindle to thereby rotatably support the roll in a [56] References dispensing position, and means for automatically dis- UNITED STATES PATENTS engaging the spindle from the supporting means after 2 299 301 10/1942 Britt et a1 242/55 3 a predetermined amount of flexlble material has been removed from the roll. 2,592,346 4/1952 Scogin ..242/55.3 2,605,975 8/1952 18 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Page et a1. ..242/55.3

FATENTED SEP 1 2 I972 SHEET 1 BF 4 INVENTOR PAUL wf JESPERSEN Q W MIUTWQKL ATTORNEYS PATENTED 12 3,690,580

sum 2 or 4 INVENTOR 74 1" 5. PAUL w. JESPERSEN ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP 12 m2 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR PAUL W. JESPERSEN ATTORNEYS PATENTEDSEP 12 I972 SHEET l [1F 4 I I I r INVENTOR PAUL W. JESPERSEN OW MMmv/a ATTORNEYS I DISPENSER FOR CONVENTION ROLLS OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 784,307, filed Dec. 17, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l Field of the Invention This invention relates to dispensers for rolls of flexible sheet material, such as rolls of toilet paper and paper toweling. Specifically, the invention concerns a dispenser for conventional rolls of flexible sheet material in which a roll is discharged automatically from a dispensing position after a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed therefrom.

2. Description of the Prior Art A conventional roll of flexible sheet material is generally understoodto be a roll of such material having a tubular core disposed internally thereof, with the ends of the core being coterminous with the ends of the roll. Toilet paper and paper toweling frequently are prepared for marketingv and consumer use in such rolls.

Many attempts have been made to provide a dispenser for conventional rolls of flexible sheet material in which a roll is automatically discharged from a dispensing position after a predetermined amount of material has been removed therefrom. Such dispensers have enjoyed varying degrees of success but have not been widely accepted, principally due to the following drawbacks. First, the prior dispensers of this type are relatively uneconomical to manufacture and maintain. This drawback is the result of employing rather complicated roll supporting and discharging mechanisms which require several machined parts.

A further drawback of the prior dispensers of this type is a lack of sturdiness. This defect permits a roll of flexible sheet material to be removed from a dispenser before the material has been substantially removed therefrom, and also permits a roll to become jammed in the roll supporting and discharging mechanism of the dispenser.

Primarily because of these drawbacks, dispensers for conventional flexible sheet material rolls which automatically discharge a roll after it has been substantially consumed have not been favored by either commercial or private consumers. However, the potential advantages of a dispenser of this type, both to users and custodial personnel, are obvious. Thus, a long-felt need has existed for a dispenser which is economical to manufacture and maintain, and which is rugged enough to withstand the abusive wear encountered in public washrooms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The dispenser of the present invention offers an optimum solution to the problems associated with the above-mentioned prior dispensers for conventional rolls of flexible sheet material.

Basically described, the dispenser of the invention comprises; a spindle adapted to be inserted through the bore of a conventional roll of flexible sheet material so that the roll is rotatably mounted on the spindle with the ends of the spindle extending axially outwardly beyond the ends of the roll; a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members for engaging the endsof the spindle to thereby rotatably support the roll in a dispensing position between the members, the supporting members being disengageable from the spindle ends upon axial movement of the spindle; means associated with the supporting members for imparting axial movement to the spindle; and means associated with the supporting members for preventing the spindle from moving axially until a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that after the predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, the movement imparting means will move the spindle axially until the ends thereof become disengaged from thesupporting members, whereupon the spindle and the remaining portion of the roll will gravitate automatically from between the supporting members.

Preferably, the dispenser also includes means for storing a reserve roll of flexible sheet material so that after a first roll has been substantially consumed and has been discharged automatically from the dispensing position, the reserve roll will be moved automatically to the dispensing position. This feature extends the service interval of the dispenser, resulting in lower custodial expenses.

Moreover, the dispenser is ruggedly constructed and I is economical to manufacture and maintain, and thus is ideally suited for installation in both public and private washrooms.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for conventional rolls of flexible sheet material in which a roll is automatically discharged from a dispensing position after a predetermined amount of the material has been removed from the roll.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a dispenser which is economical to manufacture and maintain, and which embodies a rugged structure.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon a considerationof the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof given in connection with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the flexible sheet material dispenser of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is another sectional view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1, showing the manner in which rolls of flexible sheet material are inserted therein; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the spindle used in the dispenser shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The flexible sheet material dispenser of the invention is designated in the drawings by reference numeral 10.

Dispenser is adapted to rotatably support, in a dispensing position, a conventional roll of flexible sheet material, such as toilet paper roll 12 (FIG. 2). Roll 12 has a tubular cardboard core 14 disposed internally thereof to provide the roll with internal support. Core 14 defines a cylindrical bore 16 extending axially through roll 12 and the ends of the core are coterminous with the ends of the roll.

Dispenser 10 includes a case 18, having a back plate 20, a front plate 22, a left side plate 24, a right side plate 26, a top plate 28 and a bottom plate 30. Back plate 20 is adapted to be attached to a wall by suitable fasteners, such as screws 32'. 'Front plate 22, left side plate 24, right side plate 26, top plate 28 and bottom plate 30 are integrally interconnected, forming a housing 34 in which are housed the internal elements of the dispenser. Bottom plate 30 is connected to back plate 20 by a hinge 36 so that housing 34 may be pivoted toward or away from back plate 20 for selectively enclosing or exposing the internal elements of the dispenser. Preferably, a locking means 38 is carried by top plate 28 forreleasably locking housing 34 to back plate 20 to thus prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the housing. Locking means 38 preferably is a combination locking and latching device of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,667, owned by the as signee of the present application. Housing 34 also has an opening 40 in the lower front portion thereof, between front plate 22 and bottom plate 30, through which toilet paper may be withdrawn from the dispenser by a user.

Roll 12 is rotatably mounted on a spindle 42 (FIG. 7) prior to inserting the roll in dispenser l0. Spindle 42 comprisesa central portion 44, a pair of intermediate portions 46 and 48, which are affixed to the left and right ends of central portion 44, respectively, and a pair of end portions 50 and 52, which are affixed to the outer ends of intermediate portions 46 and 48, respectively. Spindle'42 is adapted to be inserted through bore 16 with the intermediate and end portions of the spindle extending axially outwardly beyond the ends of the roll 12. The cross-sectional dimension of central portion 44 is substantially the same as the cross-sectional dimension of bore 16 so that when the spindle is inserted through the bore, roll 12 will be substantially concentrically disposed about the spindle. Also, affixed to one end of central portion 44 is a flange 54 which is adapted to abut one end of the roll when the roll is mounted on the spindle.

The internal elements of dispenser 10 include a pair of opposed guide channels 56 and 58. Guide channel 56 is carried by left side plate 24 and comprises a pair of opposed runners 60 and 62 each having an outer flange 64 affixed to side plate 24, a web 66 extending inwardly from side plate 24, and, an inner flange 68. Inner flanges 68 of runners 60 and 62 are spaced apart in opposing relationship so that channel 56 has a substantially C-shaped cross-section, with the opening thereof defining a slot 70 which extends longitudinally of the channel.

Similarly, guide channel 58 is carried by right side plate 26 and comprises a pair of opposed runners 72 and 74 each having an outer flange 76 affixed to side plate 26, a web 78 extending inwardly from side plate 26, and an inner flange 80. Inner flanges 80 are spaced apart in opposing relationship so that guide channel 58 also has a substantially C-shaped cross-section, with the opening thereof defining a slot 82 whichextends longitudinally of the channel.

Channels 56 and 58 have open upper ends to permit spindle end portions 50 and 52 to be receivable therein and movable therealong, respectively, with spindle intermediate portions 46 and 48 being engageable with and movable along slots and 82, respectively. If desired, guide channels56 and 58 may have different transverse dimensions, i.e., the distances between webs 66 and webs 78, and spindle end portions5 0 and 52 may have dimensionally corresponding different crosssectional dimensions so that spindle 42 may be inserted between the guide channels only when each spindle end portion is received by the dimensionally corresponding guide channel.

Operatively communicating with guide channels 56 and 58 are a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members 84 and'86, respectively. Supporting members 84 and 86 engage spindle end portions 50 and 52, respectively, to thereby rotatably support roll 12 in a dispensing position within the dispenser.

Supporting member 84 comprises a pair of brackets 88 (FIG. 4 which are affixed to. inner flanges 68 or runners 60 and 62, within guide channel 56. The upper edges of brackets 88 define a bearing surface 89 comprising two bearing surface sections 90 on which spindle end portion 50 is slideable axially of the spindle.

Bearing surface sections 90 define an opening 92- therebetween which is aligned with and has substantially the same trans verse dimension as slot 70 in guide channel 56.

Supporting member 86 comprises a rib 94 formed in right end plate 26. The upper surface of rib 94 defines a camming surface 94 which is inclined downwardly and inwardly toward supporting member 84. Camming surface 96 engages spindle end portion 52. Due to the inclination of camming surface 96 and the force of gravity acting continuously on spindle42 and roll 12, the camming surface urges the spindle and roll axially of the spindle toward supporting member 84.

Roll 12 and spindle 42 are prevented from moving axially of the spindle by the inner edge of guide channel 56, i.e., the inner edges of flanges 68 or runners 60 and 62, which abuts the end of the roll nearest thereto until roll 12 has been substantially consumed.

The abutment of the inner edge of channel 56 with the end of roll 12 nearest thereto also serves to brake the rotation of the roll and prevent uncontrolled spinning thereof. Also, a flat spring (not shown) may be attached to right side plate 26 which bears against the other end of roll 12 to provide additional'means for urging theroll axially'of spindle 42 towards supporting member 84 and braking the rotation of the roll.

To permit the roll and spindle to move axially of the spindle after the roll has been substantially consumed, the inner edge of channel 56 defines an outwardly extending recess 98 within which core 14 and any remaining portion of roll 12 are accommodable. Recess 98 commences slightlyabove core 14, with the upper extremity thereof being defined by arcuate edges 100 formed in inner flanges 68 of runners 60 and 62. After roll 12 has been substantially consumed, axial movement is imparted to spindle 42 by camming surface 96,

and the spindle, core 14 and the remaining portion of roll 12 move axially of the spindle toward supporting members 84 with core 14 and the remaining portion of the roll being accommodated within recess 98. When this occurs spindle end portion 50 slides axially off of bearing surface 89 and spindle end portion 52 slides inwardly and downwardly off' of camming surface 96 (FIG. 3). The spindle, core and remaining portion of the roll then gravitate downwardly from between supporting members 84 and 86, with intermediate spindle portion 48 moving along slot 82.

Guide channels 56 and 58 extend downwardly from the supporting members and have open lower ends through which spindle 42, core 14 and any remaining portion of roll 12 may be removed from dispenser 10.

Preferably, guide channels 56 and 58 are long enough to accommodate at least two rolls therebetween simultaneously with a first roll being disposed in the dispensing position between supporting members 84 and 86 and a second roll being disposed above the first roll in a reserve position (FIGS. 1,2 and 6). Thus, after the first roll has been discharged automatically from the dispensing position, the second roll will move downwardly automatically between the guide channels until the end portions of the spindle on which the second roll is mounted have engaged supporting members 84 and 86. This feature is particularly advantageous for public washroom installations, where the dispensers are serviced at regularly established intervals. The provision of a reserve roll in each dispenser reduces the frequency with which the dispensers must be serviced and therefore increases the service interval, with a resulting decrease in custodial expenses.

When the dispenser is serviced, the spindles 42 which have been automatically discharged from between supporting members 84 and 86 are removed from between the lower ends of guide channels 56 and 58, and the cores 14 and remaining roll portions mounted thereon removed from the spindles. Fresh rolls 12 are then mounted on the spindles and the spindles reinserted into the upper ends of the guide channels to provide a fresh supply of toilet paper for the dispenser.

As will be apparent, dispenser is not only economical to manufacture and maintain, having no machined parts and only one moving part, i.e., spindle 42 and, but also embodies a rugged structure which is able to withstand the abusive wear encountered in public washrooms. The dispenser is thus ideally suited for installation in both public and private washrooms.

While the foregoing constitutes a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is recognized that various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser adapted to rotatably support, in a dispensing position, a roll of flexible sheet material having a bore extending axially therethrough, said dispenser comprising:

a spindle adapted to be inserted through said bore so that the roll is rotatably mounted on said spindle with the ends of the spindle extending axially outwardly beyond the ends of the roll;

a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members for engaging the ends of the spindle to thereby rotatably support the roll in a dispensing position between said members, said supporting members being disengageable from said spindle ends upon axial movement of the spindle;

means associated with the supporting members for imparting axial movement to the spindle; and means associated with the supporting members for preventing the spindle from moving axially until a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that after said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, said movement imparting means will move the spindle axially until the ends thereof become disengaged from the supporting members, whereupon the spindle and the remaining portion of the roll will gravitate automatically from between the supporting members.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said movement imparting means comprises a camming surface forming an integral part of one of said supporting members, said camming surface being engageable by one end of the spindle and being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the other of said supporting members.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said other supporting member comprises a bearing surface on which the other end of the spindle is axially slideable.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of opposed, elongated guide channels operatively communicating with said supporting members and extending upwardly therefrom, the upper ends of said channelsbeing open for receiving therein the ends of the spindle so that a spindle-mounted roll may be inserted between the guide channels and guided thereby to the dispensing position.

5'. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said guide channels are long enough to accommodate a plurality of spindle-mounted reserve rolls therebetween simultaneously.

6. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said guide channels extend downwardly from the supporting members so that when said spindle ends become disengaged from the supporting members, the guide channels will guide a spindle-mounted remaining roll portion downwardly from the dispensing position.

7. A device as recited in claim 6; wherein the lower ends of said guide channels are open so that a spindlemounted remaining roll portion may be removed from between the channels after gravitating from the dispensing position; and further comprising a case for enclosing said supporting members and guide channels, said case having an opening therein through which flexible sheet material may be withdrawn by a user and being openable to permit access to the ends of the guide channels for inserting spindle-mounted rolls, and removing spindle-mounted remaining roll portions from, between the guide channels.

8. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein said case comprises a back plate adapted to be attached to a wall, a front plate, a left side-plate, a right side plate, a top plate and a bottomplate, said front, left side, right side, top and bottom plates being integrally interconnected to form a housing; and wherein said housing is pivotally connected to said back plate so that the housing may be pivoted away from the back 'platefor opening the case.

9. A device as recited in claim 8, further comprising means carried by said housing for releasably locking the housing to the back plate.

10. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein one of said guide channels is carried by said left side plate and the other of said guide channels is carried by said right side plate.

11. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said guide channels has a substantially C-shaped crosssection with the open portion thereof facing inwardly and defining a slot which extends longitudinally of each of said channels.

12. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein said spindle comprises:

-. a central portion adapted to be disposed within said bore; an intermediate portion connected to each end of said central portion, said intermediate portions being engageable with and movable along said slots; and

an end portion connected to the outer end of each of said intermediate portions, said end portions being receivable in and movable along said guide channels.

13.. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein said spindle further comprises a flange connected to one end of said central portion and being adapted to abut one end of the roll when the central portion is disposed within said bore.

14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein the cross-sectional dimension of said-central portion is substantially the same as the cross-sectional dimensionof said bore so that the roll will be substantially concentrically disposed about the spindle when the roll is mounted thereon.

15. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said movement imparting means comprises a camming surface operatively communicating with a first one of said guide channels and forming an integral part of one of said supporting members, said camming surface being engageable by a first one of said spindle end portions and being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the other of said supporting members; and wherein said other supporting member comprises a bearing'surface operatively communicating with the second one of said guide channels and on which the second one of said spindle end portions is axially slideable.

16. A device as recited in claim 15; wherein said flange is connected to the end of said spindle central portion nearest said first spindle end portion so that said camming surface urges the flange against said one roll end and thereby urges both the spindle and roll axi' ally of the spindle; and wherein said preventing means comprises the inner edge of said second guide channel, whereby the spindle and roll are permitted to move axially of the spindle until the other end of the roll abuts said inner edge; and wherein said second guide channel defines an outwardly extending recess within which the remaining-portion of the roll is accommodable upon movement thereof axially of the spindle after said predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been emoved'fr m the r I so hat after said redet rmmed amount 0? mateni has been removed i'rom t e roll, the spindle and remaining roll portion will be moved axially of the spindle by the camming surface with the remaining roll portion being accommodated within said recess, whereupon said first and second spindle end portions will become disengaged from said camming surface and bearing surface, respectively.

17. A device as recited in claim 16, wherein said bearing surface comprises two bearing surface sections defining an opening therebetween, said opening being aligned with and having substantially the same transverse dimension as the slot in said second guide channel so that when said second spindle end portion becomes disengages from said bearing surface, the spindle intermediate portion associated with said second end portion will gravitate through said opening.

18. A device as recited inclaim 4, wherein said guide channels have different transverse dimensions and said spindle ends have different cross-sectional dimensions corresponding to said guide channel dimensions so that a spindle-mounted roll may be inserted between said guide channels only when each spindle end is received by the dimensionally corresponding guide channel. 

1. A dispenser adapted to rotatably support, in a dispensing position, a roll of flexible sheet material having a bore extending axially therethrough, said dispenser comprising: a spindle adapted to be inserted through said bore so that the roll is rotatably mounted on said spindle with the ends of the spindle extending axially outwardly beyond the ends of the roll; a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members for engaging the ends of the spindle to thereby rotatably support the roll in a dispensing position between said members, said supporting members being disengageable from said spindle ends upon axial movement of the spindle; means associated with the supporting members for imparting axial movement to the spindle; and means associated with the supporting members for preventing the spindle from moving axially until a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that after said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, said movement imparting means will move the spindle axially until the ends thereof become disengaged from the supporting members, whereupon the spindle and the remaining portion of the roll will gravitate automatically from between the supporting members.
 2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said movement imparting means comprises a camming surface forming an integral part of one of said supporting members, said camming surface being engageable by one end of the spindle and being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the other of said supporting members.
 3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said other supporting member comprises a bearing surface on which the other end of the spindle is axially slideable.
 4. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of opposed, elongated guide channels operatively communicating with said supporting members and extending upwardly therefrom, the upper ends of said channels being open for receiving therein the ends of the spindle so that a spindle-mounted roll may be inserted between the guide channels and guided thereby to the dispensing position.
 5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said guide channels are long enough to accommodate a plurality of spindle-mounted reserve rolls therebetween simultaneously.
 6. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said guide channels extend downwardly from the supporting members so that when said spindle ends become disengaged from the supporting members, the guide channels will guide a spindle-mounted remaining roll portion downwardly from the dispensing position.
 7. A device as recited in claim 6; wherein the lower ends of said guide channels are open so that a spindle-mounted remaining roll portion may be removed from between the channels after gravitating from the dispensing position; and further comprising a case for enclosing said supporting members and guide channels, said case having an opening therein through which flexible sheet material may be withdrawn by a user and being openable to permit access to the ends of the guide channels for inserting spindle-mounted rolls, and removing spindle-mounted remaining roll portions from, between the guide channels.
 8. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein said case comprises a back plate adapted to be attached to a wall, a front plate, a left side plate, a right side plate, a top plate and a bottom plate, said front, left side, right side, top and bottom plates being integrally interconnected to form a housing; and wherein said housing is pivotally connected to said back plate so that the housing may be pivoted away from the back plate for opening the case.
 9. A device as recited in claim 8, further comprising means carried by said housing for releasably locking the housing to the back plate.
 10. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein one of said guide channels is carried by said left side plate and the other of said guide channels is carried by said right side plate.
 11. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said guide channels has a substantially C-shaped cross-section with the open portion thereof facing inwardly and defining a slot which extends longitudinally of each of said channels.
 12. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein said spindle comprises: a central portion adapted to be disposed within said bore; an intermediate portion connected to each end of said central portion, said intermediate portions being engageable with and movable along said slots; and an end portion connected to the outer end of each of said intermediate portions, said end portions being receivable in and movable along said guide channels.
 13. A device as recited in claim 12, wherein said spindle further comprises a flange connected to one end of said central portion and being adapted to abut one end of the roll when the central portion is disposed within said bore.
 14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein the cross-sectional dimension of said central portion is substantially the same as the cross-sectional dimension of said bore so that the roll will be substantially concentrically disposed about the spindle when the roll is mounted thereon.
 15. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said movement imparting means comprises a camming surface operatively communicating with a first one of said guide channels and forming an integral part of one of said supporting members, said camming surface being engageable by a first one of said spindle end portions and being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the other of said supporting members; and wherein said other supporting member comprises a bearing surface operatively communicating with the second one of said guide channels and on which the second one of said spindle end portions is axially slideable.
 16. A device as recited in claim 15; wherein said flange is connected to the end of said spindle central portion nearest said first spindle end portion so that said camming surface urges the flange against said one roll end and thereby urges both the spindle and roll axially of the spindle; and wherein said preventing means comprises the inner edge of said second guide channel, whereby the spindle and roll are permitted to move axially of the spindle until the other end of the roll abuts said inner edge; and wherein said second guide channel defines an outwardly extending recess within which the remaining portion of the roll is accommodable upon movement thereof axially of the spindle after said predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that after said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, the spindle and remaining roll portion will be moved axially of the spindle by the camming surface with the remaining roll portion being accommodated within said recess, whereupon said first and second spindle end portions will become disengaged from said camming surface and bearing surface, respectively.
 17. A device as recited in claim 16, wherein said bearing surface comprises two bearing surface sections defining an opening therebetween, said opening being aligned with and having substantially the same transverse dimension as the slot in said second guide channel so that when said second spindle end portion becomes disengages from said bearing surface, the spindle intermediate portion associated with said second end portion will gravitate through said opening.
 18. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said guide channels have different transverse dimensions and said spindle ends have different cross-sectional dimensions corresponding to said guide channel dimensions so that a spindle-mounted roll may be inserted between said guide channels only when each spindle end is received by the dimensionally corresponding guide channel. 